Putnam County commissioners discuss drafting zoning and development code changes
March 01, 2026 | Putnam County, Georgia
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The Putnam County Board of Commissioners held a work session on Nov. 18, 2025, to continue discussions on drafting ordinances aimed at streamlining planning and development processes in the county. County Attorney Adam Nelson, Planning and Development Director Lisa Jackson and Assistant Director Courtney Andrews led the conversation with commissioners in Room 203 of the Putnam County Administration Building in Eatonton.
Nelson summarized the board’s first development work session and outlined the specific subjects under consideration: creation of a C-C (Commercial Crossroads) zoning district; revisions to Chapter 53 addressing Energy Creation, Energy Storage and Digital Infrastructure; amendments to Sec. 66-165 governing action on rezoning applications and text amendments; adjustments to planned unit development (PUD) setback and density requirements; expiration timelines for preliminary plats; allowances for build-to-rent projects; and edits to Sec. 28-66 on required improvements. "I will be waiting for changes and direction from the board regarding which ordinances to move forward with," Nelson said.
Jackson and Assistant Director Courtney Andrews participated in the discussion, providing planning perspectives on how proposed edits could affect plat approvals, setbacks and infrastructure requirements. Commissioners asked clarifying questions about timing and the scope of draft language but did not vote on or adopt any ordinance language during the session.
Commissioner Steve Hersey arrived at about 3:08 p.m. and joined the remainder of the discussion. Chairman B. W. "Bill" Sharp told the group a third work session will be scheduled to continue deliberations. County staff and the county attorney will wait for direction from the board about which of the proposed ordinance changes to draft into formal language for future consideration.
No formal motions on ordinance content were made during the meeting. The work session adjourned at approximately 5:06 p.m. after a motion to adjourn by Commissioner Tom McElhenney, seconded by Commissioner Richard Garrett; Commissioners McElhenney, Garrett, Hersey and Wooten voted yea.
The board did not take final action on the proposed code changes at this meeting; the next step is a follow-up work session at a date not specified in the minutes.
Nelson summarized the board’s first development work session and outlined the specific subjects under consideration: creation of a C-C (Commercial Crossroads) zoning district; revisions to Chapter 53 addressing Energy Creation, Energy Storage and Digital Infrastructure; amendments to Sec. 66-165 governing action on rezoning applications and text amendments; adjustments to planned unit development (PUD) setback and density requirements; expiration timelines for preliminary plats; allowances for build-to-rent projects; and edits to Sec. 28-66 on required improvements. "I will be waiting for changes and direction from the board regarding which ordinances to move forward with," Nelson said.
Jackson and Assistant Director Courtney Andrews participated in the discussion, providing planning perspectives on how proposed edits could affect plat approvals, setbacks and infrastructure requirements. Commissioners asked clarifying questions about timing and the scope of draft language but did not vote on or adopt any ordinance language during the session.
Commissioner Steve Hersey arrived at about 3:08 p.m. and joined the remainder of the discussion. Chairman B. W. "Bill" Sharp told the group a third work session will be scheduled to continue deliberations. County staff and the county attorney will wait for direction from the board about which of the proposed ordinance changes to draft into formal language for future consideration.
No formal motions on ordinance content were made during the meeting. The work session adjourned at approximately 5:06 p.m. after a motion to adjourn by Commissioner Tom McElhenney, seconded by Commissioner Richard Garrett; Commissioners McElhenney, Garrett, Hersey and Wooten voted yea.
The board did not take final action on the proposed code changes at this meeting; the next step is a follow-up work session at a date not specified in the minutes.
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